NANNOPLANKTON CONTENTS OF THE TYPE-MAASTRICHTIAN
a note by Shirley E. van Heck
Following the current views, the type-Maastrichtian at the .ENCI-Quarry
near Maastricht can be subdivided into two lithological units: the Gulpen
Chalk and the Maastricht Chalk, separated by a coprolite layer (ROMEIN ,1962). This subdivision is in accordance with an earlier, more refinedlithological subdivision by UHLENBROEK (1912), and correlates as follows:
Md ~± 15 m.)
Maastricht Chalk
Me ± 10 m.)
Mb + 20 m.)
UHLENBROEKROMEIN:
Coprolite layer
Ma 5- 10 cm~)
Gulpen Chalk
Cr 4 (3.5 m.)
Nineteen samples from the type-T1aastrichtian have been studied on theirnannoplankton contents by SISSINGH (1977). Thorough reinvestigation ofthese samples (10 cm. per slide, 1200 X magn.) revealed some deviations,which gave reason for this note.
In total 142 species were recognised, several of which have not been
described as yet. A selection of 56 species is presented on the distribution
chart. To avoid any taxonomical descriptions, only published combinations
have been used. The upper six samples (15.00 m. - 33.25 m.) were too poor
for a quantitative analysis.
A most interesting result is, that Nephrolithus freguens appears far lower
than reported by other authors, be it in very low number. This implies thatmost of the type-Maastrichtian belongs to the !• freguens Zone. Micula muruswas also found, and several of the species described by PERCH-NIELSEN (1973)
from the Maastrichtian of Madagaskar, e.g. Cribrocorona gallica, Eiffellithus parallelus, Markalius perforatus, Prediscosphaera majungae, Rhagodiscus
reniformis, Stephanolithion munitum. Moreover, it appears that in many
samples reworking is present as is demonstrated by the occurrence ofAngulofenestrellithus sqyderi, Aspidolithus parous, Corollithion signum,Eiffellithus eximius and Tranolithus phacelosus from the Campanian, andof Reinhardtites levis from the Lower Maastrichtian.
The limited space in this Newsletter does not allow to elaborate on theseresults.
References-PERCH-NIELSEN,K., 1973., Neue Coccolithen aus dem Maastrichtien von·nan~­mark, Madagaskar und ii.gypten. -Bull. Geol. Soc. Denmark, vol.22, pp.306-3·33.
-ROMEIN,B.J., 1962., On the type locality of the Maastrichtian (DUMONT1849),the upper boundary of that stage and on the transgression of Maastrichtians.l. in Southern Limburg. -Meded. Geol~ Sticht., n.ser., vol.15, pp.77-84.
-SISSINGH,W., 1977., Biostratigraphy of Cretaceous calcareous nannoplankton.
Geologie en Mijnbouw, vol.56, pp.37-65.
-UHLENBROEK,G.n., 1912., Het Krijt van Zuid-Limburg. Toelichting b~ eene
geologische kaart van het Krijt-gebied van Zuid-Limburg. -Jaarverslag. Rijksopsp. Delfst., 1911, pp.48-57.
-VANGEROV,E.F.!&SCHLOEMER,W., 1967., Vergleich des "Vetschauer-Kalkes" desAachener Kreide mi t dem Kreide-Profil von SUd-Limburg anhand von Coccoli then.
-Geologie en Mijnbouw, vo1.46, pp.453-458.

INA Newsletter vol.1 - 1979

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Braarudosphaera ~mbr~cata'\.'\. '\Broinsonia -deritata'\.'\.
Chiastozygus amphipons
0'\.I"'Chiastozygus inturratus\,0 "\.'\. '\.0XChiastozygus pl~catus
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Cretarhabdus conicus
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X X Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii'\.'\.
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X
Cribrosphaerella pelta'\.'\.
Cyclagelosnhaera margereli"-0Cyclagelosphaera reinhardtii'\.
Diadorhombus rhombicus'\.
Discoli thus halln'\.'\.
Eiffellithus disgregatus
0'\.
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00 0 00 0'\. 0 :)'\. 0 ' 0X
X Eiffellithus turriseiffeli
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Kamptnerius magnfflcus'\. '\.
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0 0'\. 0 '\. 0 '\. '\.'\. 0DODO'\0 X X X X Micula decussata
X Micula murus'\.'\.
'\.'\.
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X X X Palaeopontosphaera spp.
Placozygus spiralis
00 0 0 '\D '\.0 '\0 ODX
X X Prediscosphaera cretacea
eo oe DO 0 0'\. '-00 '-0 '-0 00 00 [J 0 0X Prediscosphaera spinosa
0 000 0'- 0 CJO 0 00 X
X Prediscosphaera stoveri
Reinhardtites levis'\'\'\
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00 00'\.0Rhagodiscus angustus
0X_present0X X Stephanolithion laffittei/~ 1%'~
Stephanolithion muniturn'\ '\ '\
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Fig.1 - Species distribution within the type - Maastrichtian

INA Newsletter vol.1 - 1979

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